When you review the list of reasons that the Star Wars Holiday Special was such a colossal failure, very rarely does “Not enough Judd Hirsch” come up. “Contains no Judd Hirsch” was actually one of the few things critics cited as a positive for the SWHS. In fact, rumor has it that George Lucas got the entire special green-lit solely by pitching an hour of television that Judd Hirsch would not appear in.

So while The Night that Dracula Saved the World does not have Harvey Korman, or crappy animation, or an elderly wookie pleasuring itself, it does have Judd Hirsch. Please do not go into this special expecting not to see Judd Hirsch. You have been given fair warning. Judd Hirsch plays Dracula, who is facing a major dilemma: he’s played by Judd Hirsch. Also, The Witch is refusing to fly over the moon, something that is totally a thing that everyone associates with Halloween. If she doesn’t fly over the moon, Halloween will be cancelled (it was already on thin ice after a Halloween special starring Judd Hirsch aired.)

Fortunately for Dracula, he’s got a lineup of monsters to help him, none of whom are played by Judd Hirsch. If you’re on a box of seasonally available General Mills marshmallow cereal, you’re in this special: Frankenstein's monster, The Wolfman, The Mummy, even MST3K's own Brain Guy makes an inexplicable appearance. Together they must stop The Witch from doing the unthinkable and ruining Halloween, (though everyone probably would have blamed it on Judd Hirsch anyway.)

Thrill and chill at how low the standards were for winning an Emmy in the 70s! (Seriously. It won one.) The Night that Dracula Saved the World is probably the second worst holiday special of all time, but then again, see it and decide for yourself. At least the Star Wars Holiday Special had those funny old commercials. Happy Halloween!

I think one thing that annoyed me most about the short is it never epxlains how Halloween was in danger. You stop Christmas by stopping Santa, but if the witch doesn't fly over the moon... What happens?

It isn't often that I can't sit through an entire short, what with them being short and all, but I couldn't get through this. I've still never gotten through the Star Wars Holiday Special either. Some things are just too irritating to me.

Logged

Earlier today I severed my own head and attached it to the bell of this baritone saxophone.

Actually, it's a TV special, so longer than a short. But yeah, this. Is. Rough.

I bet it's the exact same issue I had with the Star Wars Holiday thing then; I can remember making an attempt at watching both of these, as a child, when they were on TV. I was probably in 3rd or 4th grade. And I remember my dad seeing what I was watching and me being embarrassed, as if I thought either of these things was anything less than horrible even as a child.Pretty sure they've scarred me for life. So thanks Rifftrax! I'm triggered now! (Not even sure I am using "triggered" correctly)

Logged

Earlier today I severed my own head and attached it to the bell of this baritone saxophone.

Don't remember this one as a youngin', but do remember the Star Wars holiday special. Totally different time when Star Wars being on free TV was a big deal. Remember being excited and then terribly disappointed as it was on the level of staying with my grandparents and being forced to watch Lawrence Welk.

Don't remember this one as a youngin', but do remember the Star Wars holiday special. Totally different time when Star Wars being on free TV was a big deal. Remember being excited and then terribly disappointed as it was on the level of staying with my grandparents and being forced to watch Lawrence Welk.